It seems inevitable that, no matter how well we watch over our pets, or provide a safe environment, we can never completely prevent harm from finding our pets. When that unfortunate occasion presents itself, we must be prepared.
A well-stocked first-aid kit should include gauze pads, rolls, and bandages. A rectal thermometer, tweezers, Hydrogen Peroxide, antibiotic ointment, instant cold packs, rags or towels, a tourniquet, custom splints, a muzzle, and all your pet's paperwork and necessary numbers.
If your pet is sick or has been severely injured, you must approach them carefully and quietly, because even the friendliest pet is capable of biting or scratching its owner. It's necessary to muzzle your pet when taking care of them to prevent both injury to you and him.
The first thing you need to do is assess the situation of your dog. Are they suffering from a broken bone, heat exhaustion or heat stroke, severe bleeding internally or externally, snake or insect stings or bites or have they collapsed or are seizuring.
Once you have addressed your pet's situation, you'll need to take their vital signs. To check your pet's pulse, place your fingers on the inside of the hind leg, then slide your fingers upward, until the back of your hand is touching the abdomen and you can feel the pulse of the femoral artery with your fingertips. To get an accurate count of the beats per minute (bpm), count the number of beats every 15 seconds and multiply that number by 4. The normal number of beats per minute for a dog at rest is between 60-160.
If your dog has sustained a broken bone, you'll need to seek veterinary care immediately. In order to transport your dog, you'll need a hard, flat surface padded with blankets. Do not attempt to set the broken bone, or push a protruding bone back into place. Your pet will need to be lightly, but securely secured to the stretcher. You'll need to secure your vet's broken leg, before getting them to the vet. To do this, wrap the broken limb in gauze padding, then wrap with a towel, or some type of cloth and two stiff pieces of wood. Your homemade splint should extend above and below the fractured joint. Wrap the splint with tape, making sure not to cut off blood flow.
If your dog is bleeding, either internally or externally, you need to get them to a vet. Firmly press a gauze pad over the wound, until the bleeding stops and clotting occurs. If your pet is bleeding profusely, apply a tourniquet above the wound, close to the heart. Be careful not to cut off circulation. Symptoms that your pet is bleeding internally are bleeding from the nose, mouth and rectum, couching blood and blood in their urine. Keep your dog warm and quiet on the way to the vet.
If your dog has been severely burned, quickly apply ice-cold compresses to the affected area. If your pet has received a chemical burn, flush immediately with large quantities of cold water. If you take your dog on hikes, or live in the country, then your pet may be prone to insect stings and/or snakebites. The signs of snakebite are pain, lethargy, diarrhea and vomiting, drinking lots of water, swelling around the area of the bite, and sometimes shock. It's important to get veterinary help immediately. It will help to identify the species of snake that bit your dog, so the vet can administer the right treatment. Insect bites or stings are defined by swelling and redness of the site. Dogs may paw at their faces or bite at thin air. Immediately remove a stinger if you see one. Applying a cool compress will help alleviate swelling around the affected area. You can administer 2-4mg of Benadryl orally every 8 hours. Take your dog to the vet only if the problem persists or gets worse.
Heat stroke or heat exhaustion is common during the summer. Both have similar symptoms of excessive panting, fatigue/weakness, and red mucous membranes. You need to get your dog to a shady spot, and slowly cool them down by placing them in cool water to bring their body temperature back down to normal, which is between 105-106 degrees Fahrenheit. If your dog's condition persists, take them to the vet.
To perform CPR on your pet, first make sure their airways is unobstructed. To open the airways, extend their neck and head and remove any foreign objects from the throat, then pull the tongue forward. Next look and listen for any signs of breathing. If none is visible, hold the dog's muzzle and breathe into its nostrils. You should administer 8-10 breaths per minute and you should see the dog's chest rise and fall. In extreme cases, when there is no pulse, lay the dog on its right side on a hard surface. Using the heel of your hand, compress the chest behind the elbow. Give compressions at a rate of 80-120 per minute, along with 2 breaths, every 15-chest compressions.
Having a first-aid kit with you at home, or on the go, can mean the difference between life and death for your dog. Taking car of your pet at the scene of the accident or at home is not a guarantee that your pet will survive. Veterinarian attention should be sought out immediately.